March 2 event: Parents' dramatic turnarounds leads to reunification with children

 

 

 

		County of Los Angeles DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES   425 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, California  90020                                                                   (213) 351-5602
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 27, 2010   Contact:    Neil Zanville                     DCFS Office of Public Affairs: (213) 351-5779                    Day of Event:                          (310  980-7596			Board of Supervisors   GLORIA MOLINA First District   MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS Second District   ZEV YAROSLAVSKY Third District   DON KNABE Fourth District   MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH Fifth District
MEDIA ADVISORY   Parents' dramatic success stories leads to reunification with children Innovative DCFS Programs facilitate safe family reunification
What:	On March 2nd, The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Vermont Corridor Office will host an open-house reception as part of L.A. County's week-long Family Reunification Week celebration.  DCFS staff and community partners will celebrate with families that have successfully and safely reunified with their children.    On hand will be representatives from Wraparound Services and Linkages, innovative DCFS programs that provide community-based resources to help families safely reunify with their children.  Families that have achieved dramatic success in  reunifying with their children will share their experiences.
Who:	Ernest Melendrez, upon release from prison, focused solely on reunifying with his daughter and in doing so transformed his life and family. Today, Ernest helps others working with Friends Outside Families and is active with Father's Intuition, a group supporting single fathers.  His success story has captured the attention of both Mayor Villaraigosa and Governor Schwarzenegger.  Together with his fiancée, Ernest now provides a loving stable home for his daughter and eight other children as well.   Shirley-Shamsid Deen represents another dramatic success story and will discuss how Wraparound and Linkages Services helped her overcome years of addiction to become a nurturing responsible mother.   DCFS Administrators, Wraparound & Linkages Program Managers
When:	Tuesday, March 2, 2010       1 pm - 2:45 pm Program Begins at 1:15      Featured Family Speakers at  1:30
Where:	DCFS Vermont Corridor Office, 8300 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA  90044 Conference Room 418, (323) 965-5171
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